Wizards veterans ready to get off the bench

Maurice Evans has had a great view of the Wizards games so far, but he would prefer the view from on the court than the one at the end of the bench. Evans had played in just three games for the Wizards this season, totaling barely 15 minutes, then played 15 minutes and 22 seconds in Monday’s overtime win against the Toronto Raptors.

“I had some good minutes, especially the first time getting incorporated back into the rotation,” Evans said.

“I just wanted to bring a lot of energy and try and focus on making the right plays that would help our team and not hurt us.”

Evans, 33, along with Roger Mason Jr., 31, are two of the Wizards veteran backup players that provide leadership to a squad of young players, eight of whom are still on their rookie contracts. But Mason and Evans aren’t getting nearly as much time on the court as they had hoped for this season. Ronny Turiaf, 29, fills that leadership role as well, but he’s still out with a broken hand.

“It’s been difficult,” Evans said of the team’s poor record, and his lack of playing time.

“The expectations that I had for us coming in [was to] hopefully trying to get that seventh, eighth seed in the playoffs, and it still isn’t unattainable. A lot of things have to come together for us, and we really have to pick it up.”

“Obviously I thought I would play a bigger role in what’s going on here throughout the year, and now I think its my opportunity to come here and help the team.”

Evans and Mason may start to see more playing time, since the mandate of developing the young players that comes from owner Ted Leonsis and President Ernie Grunfeld also has its downside.

The Wizards have a record of 5-20 record, are showing many of the growing pains common in a young team, including turnovers, an inability to hold a lead or close out games, and a falling into panic mode when they get down, and forgetting the game plan.

In the meantime, two veterans of playoff teams, Evans and Mason, remain on the bench watching. Only Rashard Lewis, 32, starts for the team and plays significant minutes, except when his knees give him trouble, and he needs to take a game or two off.